1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas

1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas
	County results; Lincoln: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%; Boozman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
U.S. senator before election; Dale Bumpers; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Blanche Lincoln; Democratic

The 1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Senator Dale Bumpers chose to retire instead of running for reelection to a fifth term. Making this was the first open seat with no incumbent held in this seat since the 1884 election. Democratic former U.S. Representative Blanche Lincoln won the open seat against Republican State Senator Fay Boozman. Lincoln did not seek re-election to Congress in 1996 because she wanted prioritize her family having welcomed twin boys in mid 1996, thus, she took 2 years off before re-entering the political arena as a Senate candidate. At 38, Lincoln was the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Senate. In 2010, Lincoln would lose re-election to a third term by Fay Boozman's brother, John Boozman.

Controversy about pregnancy from rape

During the campaign, Boozman caused controversy for his comments about rape, claiming that women rarely became pregnant after being raped due to a hormone he described as "God's little protective shield".^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Winston Bryant, Attorney General of Arkansas, former lieutenant governor, former Secretary of State of Arkansas and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1996^[2]
Nate Coulter, Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1993^[2]
Blanche Lincoln, former U.S. Representative^[2]
Scott Ferguson, radiologist and State Representative^[2]

Withdrew

Pat Hays, Mayor of North Little Rock^[3]

Results

Democratic Primary results^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Blanche Lincoln	145,009	45.5%
	Democratic	Winston Bryant	87,183	27.4%
	Democratic	Scott Ferguson	44,761	14.0%
	Democratic	Nate Coulter	41,848	13.1%
Total votes			318,801	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Fay Boozman, State Senator
Tom Prince, Mayor of Little Rock^[5]

Results

Republican Primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Fay Boozman	128,929	78.0%
	Republican	Tom Prince	44,006	22.0%
Total votes			172,035	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Blanche Lincoln (D), former U.S. Representative
Fay Boozman (R), State Senator
Charley Heffley (Reform)

Results

Arkansas Senate election 1998
	Candidate	Votes	%
Democratic	Blanche Lincoln	385,878	55.07%
Republican	Fay Boozman	295,870	42.23%
Reform	Charley E. Heffley	18,896	2.70%
Democratic hold

References

^ Pruden, William (February 25, 2021). "Fay Boozman (1946–2005)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Politics - Arkansas Senate, Candidates". Washingtonpost.com. September 16, 1998. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
^ "Pat Hays political future a source of speculation". Talk Business & Politics. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
^ "Arkansas". 1998 Senatorial Democratic Primary Election Results. February 15, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
^ "G.O.P. Incumbents Hold Off Challengers in Pennsylvania - The New York Times". The New York Times. May 20, 1998. Retrieved May 4, 2021.

[1] Pruden, William (February 25, 2021). "Fay Boozman (1946–2005)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved February 25, 2021.

[auto-2] "Politics - Arkansas Senate, Candidates". Washingtonpost.com. September 16, 1998. Retrieved May 4, 2021.

[3] "Pat Hays political future a source of speculation". Talk Business & Politics. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.

[4] "Arkansas". 1998 Senatorial Democratic Primary Election Results. February 15, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2021.

[5] "G.O.P. Incumbents Hold Off Challengers in Pennsylvania - The New York Times". The New York Times. May 20, 1998. Retrieved May 4, 2021.

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'S,' denotes special election; 'U,' denotes election under Federal (Union) military occupation See also: Political party strength in Arkansas

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Controversy about pregnancy from rape

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

See also

References